Atwater star named Sun-Star Basketball Player of the Year after championship, MVP season
Atwater High star Karissa Hukill has always had aspirations of playing basketball in college.
The Falcons junior is willing to put in the work to make her dream come true.
Hukill will often work out in the gym in the morning before school. After a two-hour practice with the team, she’ll stay after practice and work out another hour with former Atwater standout Lexi Valencia.
“She does that six to seven days a week,” said Atwater coach JR Davis. “She probably spends 20 to 25 hours a week in the gym.”
The work has paid off as Hukill was named the Central California Conference MVP after helping lead the Falcons to a fourth consecutive conference championship. Atwater finished 25-8.
Hukill is also the Merced Sun-Star Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
“You have to have the will to want to work,” Hukill said. “You have to have the will to want to help your teammates. I would push myself beyond what I thought I could do.”
Hukill has seen her scoring raise about three points per game from last year to 17.1 points as a junior this year. She also averaged 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4 steals per game.
Hukill worked hard at finishing near the basket with her scoop shots and reverse layups. She’s worked on improving her footwork, her speed and quickness.
“She used to be hesitant and would dribble too much,” Davis said. “Now she sees things. She can help set up her teammates or take good shots.”
With Hukill leading the way, the Falcons went a perfect 12-0 in their run to a CCC championship. They advanced to the Sac-Joaquin Section semifinals for the first time since 1988 and reached the second round of the NorCal Regional playoffs.
“It was an amazing season,” Hukill said. “What made it special was doing it with people like our coaches who make it so fun. We had great coaches and great teammates.”
“I think it’s going to motivate us,” she added. “We know what we have to fix to go further. We know we can get that far and we know what we have to improve on.”
When your best player is your hardest worker, it’s a great combination for a coach.
“The other girls have someone to look up to,” Davis said. “They see her working and they think they need to put in extra work. She can lead by example without saying much.”
Soccer
Brisa Gonzales, Hilmar
The Hilmar High girls soccer team had its best season in school history, winning a Sac-Joaquin Section championship and advancing to the NorCal Division V championship match.
Leading the way was sophomore midfielder Brisa Gonzales, who led the Yellowjackets with 31 goals to go along with eight assists this season.
Gonzales was named the Trans-Valley League MVP after leading the Yellowjackets to a share of the league championship.
Gonzales, 15, is also the Merced Sun-Star Girls Soccer Player of the Year.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience this year,” Gonzales said. “Our team had a strong bond together. We all built strong relationships. We had great chemistry together.”
Gonzales didn’t start playing competitive soccer until she was 12 years old. Now three years later she’s one of the top players in the Trans-Valley League.
“I just enjoy playing,” Gonzales said. “It’s a passion for me. I practice, do drills, but mostly I love playing games.”
Gonzales went on a quite a scoring run in the postseason.
The midfielder opened with three goals in the first playoff game and scored eight goals in six postseason matches, including the tying goal on a penalty kick in the NorCal finals against Winters.
“What makes her a prolific goal scorer is her ability to score multiple ways,” said Hilmar coach Guy Bettencourt. “She can take defenders one on one, she can shoot from 30 yards out, and she can score off corner kicks with her head.”
With all his starters returning, Hilmar will enter next season with high expectations.
Gonzales is ready for the challenge.
“I feel the pressure makes me work harder,” she said.
Wrestling
Evelyn Vargas, Merced
When Evelyn Vargas was younger she would get in trouble while playing soccer because she played a little too rough. She kept pushing other players.
She’s always been aggressive.
That’s what attracted her to wrestling.
She started wrestling as a freshman and three years later she’s one of the top wrestlers in the Sac-Joaquin Section.
After finishing third in the state in the 190-pound division, Vargas is the Merced Sun-Star Girls Wrestler of the Year.
“I remember going on YouTube and seeing videos of girls wrestling and thinking that’s pretty cool,” Vargas said. “I joined wrestling as a freshman and I liked it a lot.”
Vargas credits her Merced coaches and Atwater coach Steven Urquizo for her rapid development.
Vargas made it to state as a sophomore last year and after going 1-2, she was determined to make it back to Bakersfield for the state finals.
She accomplished that goal and finished atop the podium this year with her third-place finish.
Along the way, Vargas won a Central California Conference championship, a South Regional Championship and finished second at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters.
Vargas finished the season with an impressive 22-4 record.
“This whole season I wanted to make it back to state,” Vargas said. “When I lost on the second day I wanted to come back and place. So finishing third meant a lot. I wasn’t ranked this year until the last week before the state meet.”
Her performance this year has already motivated her to do better her senior year.
“I want to be a state champion,” Vargas said.
She’s already got big plans this summer to help get her ready for her senior season.
“I”m going to National Duels and I hope to be an All-American,” Vargas said. “I definitely want to continue wrestling in college.”
All-Area Teams
Basketball
Jolie Hart, Atwater
Avnoor Bains, El Capitan
Averie Steverson, Merced
America Ordunez, Los Banos
Andrea Sandoval, Atwater
Cali Cole, Stone Ridge Christian
Alicia Souza, Hilmar
Sasha Siemiller, Pacheco
Bella Ewing, Stone Ridge Christian
Cameron Gibson, Atwater
Saige Harckenson, Atwater
Madysen Dietz, El Capitan
Shantelle Magana, El Capitan
Amiya Brown, Merced
Soccer
Mia Howard, Buhach Colony
Brooklyn Day, Golden Valley
Eugenia Olmos, Golden Valley
Monica Moreno, Los Banos
Kaydence Erickson, Stone Ridge Christian
Isabel Orozco, Los Banos
Gabriela Prado, Golden Valley
Sidney Logsdon, Hilmar
Ava Briceno, Golden Valley
Emma Quisenberry, Stone Ridge Christian
Alyssa Colston, Hilmar
Shandel Aguilera, Gustine
Bella Rodriguez, Golden Valley
Alicia Avalos, Pacheco
Sarah Raya, Stone Ridge Christian
Alexis Aguiar, Hilmar
Dana Saeteurn, El Capitan
Sofia Alcorn, Buhach Colony
Rosalie Guevera, Merced
Lizet Amador, Atwater
Wrestling
Alexandra Loretto, Pacheco
Angelina Borelli, Los Banos
Jessica Flores, Merced
Aliza Sanchez, Merced
Elyse Flores, Golden Valley
Noemi Revuelta, Livingston
Jayna Arrucera, Pacheco
Alondra Revuelta, Livingston
Dianna Alvarez, Atwater
Joana Lopez-Padilla, Buhach Colony
